Several legends exist as to how North Carolina became the Tar Heel State. Some claim the nickname originated when General Cornwallis tried to cross what is now the Tar River during the American Revolution after tar had been dumped in it. Others say it originated in the Civil War as a tribute to North Carolina soldiers’ willingness to hold their ground. Some say it’s related to North Carolina’s earliest export, tar. But North Carolina’s nickname is not the only legend that comes from the state, which boasts many groundbreaking firsts and champions of numerous sports.

Flight, Pepsi and Guns?

North Carolina license plates carry the phrase "First in Flight." On December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville Wright conducted the first successful airplane flight. The next time you fly on an airplane, give a salute to the Wright Brothers and enjoy a Pepsi-Cola, which was also invented in North Carolina by Caleb Bradham. Do not, however, make it a North Carolina trifecta by bringing a Gatling gun onboard, which was invented by North Carolinian Richard Gatling.

Michael Jordan

Speaking of taking flight, Michael "Air Jordan" Jordan, although born in Brooklyn, was raised in the Tar Heel State since he was a toddler. Jordan led the University of North Carolina to the National Championship in 1982. He went on to play for the Chicago Bulls and led them to six NBA titles. Jordan won six Finals MVP awards, five regular season MVPs and appeared in 14 All-Star games. Considered by many as the greatest player in NBA history, Jordan is now a part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Four Corners Offense

Before Michael Jordan became a basketball icon, Dean Smith had already become a basketball coaching legend at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Smith’s innovations include huddling at the free throw line, tapping one’s head to call for a substitution, pointing a finger at a teammate for delivering a good pass and numerous defensive sets. His most famous innovation is the "Four Corners" offense, a tactic used to run down the clock in order to preserve a lead. His stall tactic eventually led to the NCAA instituting a shot clock in 1985. There is still a restaurant in Chapel Hill named "Four Corners" after Smith’s legacy.

Dale Earnhardt

North Carolinians are big stock car racing fans, a trend perpetuated by Dale Earnhardt, who was one of NASCAR’s best racers and a North Carolina native. Earnhardt, a six-time Winston Cup champion, was named 1979 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, won 7 Winston Cup championships and was named the most popular NASCAR driver of 2001. Earnhardt has been inducted into the Motor Sports Hall of Fame, International Motor Sports Hall of Fame and NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Sugar Ray Leonard

In addition to boasting legendary basketball coaches and players as well as one of racing’s all-time greatest drivers, North Carolina also produced one of the world’s great boxers, Sugar Ray Leonard. Leonard won titles in five different weight classes, and became the first boxer to amass over $100 million in winnings. He was named Boxer of the Decade for the 1980s.

Vince McMahon

The final person on the list of North Carolina-made champions is Vince McMahon, the undisputed champion of wrestling promoters. After graduating from East Carolina University with a degree in business and a short career as a traveling salesman, McMahon became a manager at his father’s World Wide Wrestling Federation. Behind the younger McMahon’s leadership, World Wide Wrestling took off, changed its name to the World Wrestling Federation, and ushered in an explosion of professional wrestling popularity. McMahon still runs the company, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment.